YEAR 7
Starting Well
Narelle Brooke
Head of Year 7
YEAR 7 KEY INFORMATION: WEEK 8
College Song – House Competition: Congratulations Hutchinson House!
After an energetic and spirited competition, the cool cats from Hutchinson House took out the College Song Competition with a one-point win over second-placed Heavey House!
I was impressed by the way our students came together to display their school spirit, enthusiasm and House pride. I look forward to seeing the videos of this competition resurface during their Year 12 graduation festivities - it will be a wonderful way to reminisce and reflect on their time at the College!
Year 7 – School Immunisation Program
Thursday, 29 October (Term 4, Week 4)
Vaccination consent forms were distributed to students this week. Please ask your child for the form and contact their Pastoral Mentor if you have not received one.
Please note that Queensland Health will only administer vaccinations to students who have returned a completed consent form with parental/carer permission.
Attendance – Late Arrivals
Following on from last week's message regarding attendance, this week I would like to focus on the importance of arriving at the College on time.
The school day begins at 8:25am, when the warning bell rings to indicate that students have five minutes to prepare for Periods 1 and 2 and to line up outside their Pastoral Group classrooms.
Arriving on time helps students begin the day in a calm and organised manner. It provides an opportunity to settle in, organise belongings, and be ready to commence learning alongside their peers. Students who arrive late often miss the important daily notices, room changes, and other information that helps them navigate the school day smoothly.
In addition, late arrivals miss valuable Pastoral Group time, where connections are strengthened with classmates, Pastoral Mentors, and Year 11 Mentors.
I seek your support in reviewing your family's morning routine to ensure students arrive on time each day and are able to maximise the opportunities and experiences available to them at St Mary's.
Student Hygiene
During Community PG this week, we took the opportunity to remind students about the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene.
As students spend much of their day in close proximity to one another, maintaining good hygiene habits is important for both personal wellbeing and consideration of others. For many of our Year 7 students, this is also a time of significant physical development and change.
Students were reminded of the importance of showering daily using soap, regularly washing their uniforms, and wearing antiperspirant deodorant each day. These simple habits help ensure that our classrooms remain as comfortable and positive learning environments for everyone.
Student were also advised that if they have concerns regarding another student's hygiene, they should discretely bring the matter to the attention of a teacher. This allows staff to address the issue respectfully and privately, ensuring all students are treated with dignity and care.
Assessment Planners
Weeks 8 and 9 are particularly busy periods for students, with a number of assessment tasks due across various subject areas.
Please take a moment to review the Year 7 Term 2 Assessment Planner and check in with your child about their upcoming assessment schedule.
If you have any questions regarding assessment requirements or due dates, please reach out to your child’s subject teacher.
UNIFORM SCHEDULE: WEEK 8
WHOLE-OF-COLLEGE NOTICES
My School Connect
My School Connect has been rolled out as an ordering and payment system for the Tuckshop, Uniform Shop, Library items (including new laptop skins, power cords, and library books), extracurricular sports tours, instrumental music fees, and more.
If you have not yet activated your My School Connect account, please do so using the activation link that was re-sent to your nominated email address in May 2026.
If you require a new activation code, please contact support@myschoolconnect.com.au and they will be able to re-issue the activation link if required.
https://clarkeandprince.com.au/
https://stratforddelicatering.com.au/
https://www.harleyseducational.com.au/
https://www.cairnsluxurycoaches.com.au/
KEY DATES
Please note that all key dates are listed in the College Calendar. This can be accessed via the MyCE Parent App and synced with your personal calendar.
| Event | Date | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics Carnival | Monday, 22 June | Term 2 |
COLLEGE WEBSITE - For the latest information and guidance relevant to both staff and families, please refer regularly to our St Mary's Catholic College Website.
Leah McBryde
Assistant Principal
Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9)
On behalf of the College Leadership Team
College Leadership Team
